Town of Troy

PARK BOARD MEETING

Tuesday May 27, 2008

7:00 pm, Troy Town Hall

 

Members Present:

Jill Berke, Charlie Macdonell, Jim Freund, Greg Small

 

Members Absent:

Mark Daun (excused), Brian Schwab (excused)

Others Present:

Jan Cuccia, Town Supervisor #3, Mel Hermansen, Town Constable, Barb & Dennis Keiker, residents

 

 

Call to Order 

Chair Berke called the meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board to order at 7:05 PM.  Member Schwab was assisting with the City of Hugo (Minnesota) tornado relief effort, member Daun was called away on business for his employer.

 

 

Adoption of Agenda

Macdonell moved to adopt the agenda; Freund seconded the motion.  Motion was unanimously carried.

 

 

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the April 22, 2008 Park Board meeting were reviewed.  Freund moved to approve the minutes with the addition of the name of the scoutmaster; Macdonell seconded the motion.  Motion unanimously carried.

 

The minutes of the May 6, 2008 Park Board meeting were reviewed.  Freund moved to approve the minutes with corrections to the Glover Park sign item; Macdonell seconded the motion.  Motion unanimously carried.

 

 

Review of Park Revenue/Expenditures through April 2008; Approval of Invoices/Impact Fees

  • The park revenue and expenditures through April 2008 were reviewed.  It was noted that impact fees for park improvements total $115,765 and County Park Funds total $92,113.93.
  • Member Macdonell moved that the revenue and expenditures be approved as tabulated by the Town Clerk.  Seconded by Berke.  Motion unanimously carried.

 

 

 

Constable/Park Ranger Report 

The constable/park ranger report was reviewed.  Macdonell moved to accept the Constable/Park Ranger report, seconded by Freund.  Motion unanimously approved.

 

Constables reported that the rules sign near the pavilion at Glover Park is missing.  It appears that someone removed the bolts and took the sign.  Chair Berke will follow up with the town crew to determine if it was removed for a maintenance purpose.

 

Discussion was introduced by the Constables regarding use of the Cove Boat Ramp without payment of the ramp fee.  Residents Barb and Dennis Keiker presented discussion regarding their observations of people using the ramp and then parking the boat trailer/vehicle in the driveways of nearby residents without paying the ramp fee.  Mr. Keiker feels that all users of the ramp should be paying the fee, as he does, whether they are a resident of the Cove area, or not.  Discussion ensued on potential solutions to the issue.  However, all proactive solutions to the problem included additional staffing to regulate the ramp access which would become cost prohibitive.  The board will continue to monitor the situation with the constables and residents.

 

 

Continued Preparation for Plan Commission Meeting

Chair Berke provided copies of materials provided by Cedar Corp regarding parks planning.  It is hoped that the Park Board can present a vision of future parkland requirements to the Plan Commission at the July 10 Plan Commission meeting.  Extensive discussion ensued regarding potential future parklands needs for the Town.  In order to facilitate development of a coherent presentation to the Plan Commission, Chair Berke will invite Patrick Beilfuss from Cedar Corp to the June Park Board meeting to moderate the discussion and assist in this development.

 

 

Park Board Vacancy

The Park Board continues to seek nominations to the Park Board for the seat vacated by the departure of Jan Cuccia.

 

 

Park & Recreation Reports

 

Cove Boat Ramp

  1. Status Report:  Member Macdonell reported that repairs to the dock were made and the dock was installed by Windmill Marina.  As the river continues to recede, the dock will need to be moved again in a few weeks to keep pace with river elevation changes. 
  2. Status of Street Light:  Member Macdonell reported that St. Croix Electric Cooperative installed the new street light and it is currently operational.

 

 

 

Glover Park

  1. Status Report:  Trail finishing by Trail Source.  Trail Source began working on the trails this week (May 27).  It was not clear when they would be completed with their work, but they anticipated completion within a week or so, pending weather.
  2. Mapping Project.  Digital mapping – nothing new to report.  Sign engraving – member Daun was absent.
  3. Status of the Second Baseball Field project.  Member Macdonell reported that both the Hudson and River Falls baseball organizations have been meeting.  They are currently working out final details regarding layout and landscaping – they are working on trying to save the existing grove of walnut trees between the new and old fields and the grove of red pine trees west of the proposed field.  The baseball organizations are working to present a final plan for Board review and approval at the next Park Board meeting in June.
  4. Field Use Reservation Procedure.  Member Schwab was absent, no discussion on this topic.
  5. Request to Purchase Park Bench.  Chair Berke will proceed with ordering a new park bench to be placed in the playground area.  Park bench will be similar to the steel benches placed at several locations in the park, but will also have a back.  The bench purchase was planned for and funds were allocated under the capital budget for 2008.
  6. Signage at Omaha Road.  Chair Berke presented a conceptual design for the sign marking the trail and park access off Omaha road.  The planned sign will be white, approximately 18” x 24” with black lettering and a green border to match other Park Board authorized signage.  Text will be “Public Non-Motorized Walking Trail, Access to Glover Park, Town of Troy” with the appropriate ordinance citation along the bottom of the sign.

 

 

Pemble’s Access

  1. Report of Memorial Day season opening.  The constables and Supervisor Cuccia reported that Pemble’s was relatively quiet for the Memorial Day weekend.  This was likely due to weather.

 

 

Committee Reports

Ordinance Committee

The draft parks ordinance was briefly reviewed by the Park Board.  Supervisior Cuccia discussed the changes/updates that have been made to the ordinance.  Member Freund moved that the revised parks ordinance be adopted with the exception that the Town Constable section (Ch. 109-14 B(3)) be struck from the ordinance.  Macdonell seconded the motion.  Motion was carried unanimously. 

 

The Park Board appreciates the efforts that Supervisor Cuccia made during the Parks ordinance revisions.

 

 

Trail marking and naming committee

Nothing to report this month.

 

 

Correspondence

Lawn Barbers submitted an estimate for weed control and fertilization at Glover Park and the Town Hall.  The Park Board did not request the estimate.  Chair Berke will pass this on to the Town Clerk for review and discussion.  The Park Board was not enthusiastic about contracting for fertilization and general weed control for Glover Park at this time.

 

Adjournment

Member Macdonell moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Freund.  Motion unanimously carried.  The May 27, 2008 meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board was adjourned at 10:05 PM.

 

These minutes were taken at a meeting of the Town of Troy Park Board held on May 27, 2008.

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

 

Gregory L. Small

Secretary

 

 

Next Meeting:  June 24, 2008, 7:00 PM at Troy Town Hall